Coupler-pin lift



June 29,1926. 1,590,291

A. G. HAWKES COUPLER PIN LIFT Filed May 31, 1923 I l I in van (or:

Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. HAWKES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PULLMAN COMPANY,A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COUPLER-PIN LIFT.

, Application filed May 31, 1923. seriaino. 642,693.

This invention relates to car coupling devices and more particularly tothe uncoupling mechanism or devices for lifting the coupler or lockingpins of couplers employed for connecting the cars of railway trains andthe like.

Oneof the objects of the invention is the provision of newand improveduncoupling rigging or mechanism that is constructed of a minimum numberof parts but at the same time will permit the necessary longitudinal,lateral and vertical movements of the coupler, incident to the travel ofthe car.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, strong anddurable improved device of this character which may be easilymanipulated and one that is efficient and reliable in operation. 7

Other and further objects and advantages ofthe invention will appearfrom the fol lowing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of arailway car showing the invention in position thereon, parts in sectionand parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 with the coupler removed and withparts broken away; 7

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4: and 5 are details of a modified form of the device.

On the drawings, the reference character 10 designates a car, and 11 acoupler there for including a coupler pin 12 for locking the knuckle 18,all of which are of the usual or well known construction.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a horizontally arranged rock shaft 14 ispivotally or rotatably mounted in loops or brackets 15 and 16 suitablysecured along the endoof the car. The outer end of the shaft 13 isprovided with the usual laterally extending arm or handle 17 by means ofwhich it is turned or rotated. The shaft l is also provided with anapertured flattened portion 18 which is normally in horizontal position.The parts are so arranged that the flattened portionis in asubstantially horizontal plane while the arm or handle ex tendsdownwardly. v Suitable mechanism connectingthfi shaft and the in 1.52.provided :tsti

, eacept, that the fzfr'i.-.

the knuckle 13. This mechanism is so con recess forv engaging theflattened portion of the rock shaft. In other words, the arm isbifurcated at its inner end, forming the plates 23 and 24 which engageeach side of the flattened portion and are provided with.

suitable apertures through which the pivot pin 19 may extend. Thepivotpin merely holds the. parts in assembled relation. This interlockingconnection between the arm and the shaft causes the arm to move when theshaft is rotated. From the pivot 19 the arm extends downwardly andoutwardly at an angle to the shaft 14 and has its free end bent, to.extend substantially parallel with said shaft for slidably engaging theeye of the pin 12, the free end of the arm being reduced for thispurpose, as shown at 25.

The end 25 of the arm 21 makes a: loose fit in the eye of the pin 12 inorder to permit sliding, turning and a limited pivotal movement of theend 25 in the eye 12. By this arrangement, vertical movement of thepivot 19 and a slight pivotal movement in the eye 12.

The modified form of thedevice shown in Figs. 4 and 5 differs from thatjust described only in the manner in which the arm is pivotallyconnected to the rock shaft. In this form, an interlocking connection isprovided for this purpose whereby the use of a pivot pin is unnecessary.As shown, the rock shaft 14. is provided with flatteaed pertion ,18arrame as, in the other forth rear sages struck on the arc of a circlefrom the center of the flattened portion, as shown at 28. The arm 21 isprovided with an'elon'gated recess or slot 26 having curved ends tocorrespond with the curved edges 28. The shorter dimension of the recessorslot is slightly less than the diameter of the rock shaft. The recessor slot has a lateral extension 27 in one wall arranged at rightangles'to the arm whereby the arm may he slipped in position on theshaft by turning thes'a-rne at right angles thereto so that the roundportion 29 on the corresponding side of the shaft 1 9 will register withthe depression. After the arm engages the flattened portion, it isturned to thereby prevent its removal. \Vhile the shaft and arm havebeen described in both forms of thedeviceas being provided-with aflattened portion 'and :a' recess, respectively, it is understood thatthe parts maybe interchanged, if desired. The operation ofthis form ofthe device is substantially the same as that just described.

It will be understood that various changes in the form, construction,composition and arrangement of the several, parts 'may be resortedto'without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence Ido not wish to limit myself strictlyto the structure herein-set forth,but f hat I claim is':

1. In a device of the class described, a rock shaft, means for operatingsaid shaft, an arm having a slot. in one end for engaging said shaft,"and apin extending through said shaft and the slotted end of said armfor pivotally connecting said armtofsaid shaft, said arm extending at anangle to'sai'd shaft and provided with an extension for operatingcoupling pin. t

2. In a device of the class described, a rock shaft having a. flattenedportion between its ends, a handle forxoperating said 'shaft,'an arm,means for; pivoting said arm to said flattened port-i'onwhereby thelatter may function as a lever to raise said pin, and means on said armforslidably engaging the eye of'a coupling pin.

3. In combination, a car, coupler mechanism for said car including acoupler pin, a comparatively straight rockshaft memher, a pair ofbearings for rotatably'mounting said rock shaft member on said car, anarm member pivotally connected to said rock shaft -member between saidbearings,

one. of said members being provided with a distorted portion and theother withme'ans for engaging said distorted. portion, and

"means for holdingsaid members inpivotal 6O engagement. ,7 a I, 4. Incombination, aifcar, coupler mechanism for said car including a couplerpin,

' "a'rock shaft comprising an approximately straight body portion,"ands'a handle portion extending at an angle therefrom, means for wardly"extending handle at its outer end,

and having aflattened intermediate portion in a plane at right angles tosaid 'handle,an arm-having one end bifurcated for engaging saidflattened portiomanda pin extending downwardly through said flattened.portion and the bifurcated end o'fsaid arm, said arm being provided withan off-set portion for slidahly engaging anxeye in the upper 7 end ofsaid pin. a v a 6. :In an uncoupling mechanism for ra l way cars, arock'shaft'com-prising a substantially straight body'portionand anoperatinghandle secured to said body portionand extending at an angletherefrom, means for rotatably mounting said shaft on'a car, an arm, apivot extending parallel to saidhandle and pivotally connecting said,arm to said body portionand meansrigidly connected to said armfor'slidably engaging the eye of a'coupler pin for operating the same.

7. In combination, "a car, coupler mechanism therefor including acoupler pin provided with aneye, a -substantially straight rock shaftcomprising a substantially straight body portion, means for rotatablymounting's'a'id body portion on said car, an uncoupling arm, a normallyvertically a'r ranged pivot connecting said arm to the straight bodyportion of said shaft, said arm being provided with'a reduced portionfor ivotallly' and slidably engaging said eye for permitting relativelateralandvertica'l'movements betwe'ens'aid arm and said pin, and ahandle-on said shaft normally extending downwardly for rotating saidshaft to elevate said arm and pin '8 ln'combination, acar, couplermechanisrn therefor including acoupler pin havan interlocked pivotalconnection with said shaft between said bearings, saidconnection beingadapted to elevate or depress said a'rni whensa'ld shaft is rotated inone direction "or the other, said arm beingprovided with means forrotatably and slidably engaging "said eye, and a handle for rotatingsaid shaftfor lifting said fpin.

w9. Acoi'iplerpinli ter comprisinga rock shaft n'iember, and" an "armmember, one "df said members being provided with a recess and the otherwith a flattened portion for engaging said recess, and means for holdingsaid flattened portion Within said recess the outer end of said armbeing adapted to en gage a coupler pin for lifting the same When saidshaft is rotated.

10. A coupler pin lifter comprising a rock shaft having aflattenedportion, and 21V lifting arm having a recess complementary to 10 andloosely fitting upon such flattened portion and a pin for pivotallyconnecting said members together.

ARTHUR G. HAVVKES.

